Today we’d like to introduce you to Eunsoo Jeong.
Eunsoo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started making Koreangry zine back in 2016, after the election.
The year 2016 was complete chaos for me (as for many people)–and I realized I was suffering sleep deprivation, anxiety, and night terrors. As a former undocumented immigrant, I understood what the election meant for me any many immigrants in my communities. I would get a hot wave of heat, cold sweat, and tight chest pains often… my drinking habits didn’t help the situation either, and I often caught myself floating in a negative and bitter place internally. I was projecting a lot of fear and insecurities to my partner (now my husband), family, and friends–in a way to rationalize my erratic behaviors and wanting to be accepted and understood.
This all came down to a simple realization; I was just angry AF.
(I just didn’t know how to express that anger in socially acceptable behavior.)
So, I wrote down what was making me angry, why it is making me angry, and who is making me angry.
I designed a character of myself (like an alter-ego) where I could be ruthless, gutsy, bold, and straight down “I don’t give AF” type of a character that speaks her mind. She is unapologetic, has clearly visible angry eyebrows, and cusses like a sailor and doesn’t give a damn! She has everything that I have that I can’t be in real life, yet her comic-world provided a safe place where I could vent.
Hence, the Koreangry started.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No- it has not been a smooth road, and I don’t think it will ever be a smooth road for me. I will, however, get used to being on the rocky road that I would change my attitude to adjust to feel like as if I am on a smooth road.
There are different types of challenges on pursuing my Koreangry comic zine works.
A technical challenge is translating my drawings or ideas to three-dimensional puppet/ armature world. I build most of my props and sets from various materials by hand. Executing my ideas into physical props, sets, and using my armature puppets in various poses– it comes many limitations, and I have to be able to let go. Because I also experiment with different art materials, supplies- the cost and time can be unpredictable per comics. Speaking of limitation, I also shoot the photos in the garage with my iPhone 5- I have limited space and light source (I shoot mostly on daylight).
The content of my works comes from very vulnerable and intimate stories of my daily life and struggle. They are sarcastic, funny, and bittersweet- but I am still screaming internally if I feel okay to share about that (I first created a separate Instagram account for “Koreangry”, so my mom doesn’t read it).
Lastly, when I present my work on a public event like zinefests and comic festivals (this is how I profit my artwork), it’s a challenge itself because I am putting myself out there and have no idea how the event will turn out for me. I get interesting conversations with visitors, sometimes great connections and sometimes not so much… and I can’t let myself carried away because I’ve invested in so much time and effort to present myself.
My two-cents for creative womxn/young womxn would be, trust the process and listen to your guts. Losing money and making mistakes is very common when you first start so don’t get discouraged.
Your feelings are valid and you will be surprised by how many people can relate to your feelings.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My work “Koreangry” is very honest stories of my life that reflect Korean-American Immigrant experience. I am proud of my work that challenges the conventional norm of what Asian woman should say or do. I am proud by the responses I’ve been receiving from both fans and haters (yes, I do get them over the social media). Because whether the response of my work is positive or negative, I’m so much in a better place in real life.
When people can relate to my work, even if when they are not a Korean-American-Immigrant-Woman, living in Los Angeles, CA- I’m thrilled to remind myself what I’m doing is something worth it.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
My Umma and Halmoni (Mom and Grandma).
As I get older, there are no other women I respect more than them.
Looking back at historical decades-I am baffled how my mom and grandma have survived without expressing their “Anger” daily.
Culturally speaking, every Koreans are born with “Han,” a combination of sorrow, regret, grief, resentment, a dull ache of the soul- and we are so used to the idea of these emotions visible to other people.
I am struggling to understand how they have endured their time…
I will never be here without the sacrifices and decisions that they have made in their time.
Pricing:
- $10 zines (comes with sticker sheet)
- $5 sticker sheet
- $2-3 mini stickers
- $3.50 pdf zines
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gumroad.com/koreangry
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreangry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koreangry/
Image Credit:
Eunsoo Jeong
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